Fritiof Ajvide’s debut novel, ”Våldet under huden” (The Violence Beneath the Skin), attempts to capture the gritty reality of Swedish gangster rap culture while exploring themes of friendship, mental health, and the pervasive influence of violence. Dedicated to the slain rapper Einár, the novel seeks to pay homage to a genre that has profoundly impacted both the author and a generation. However, the novel’s ambition ultimately outpaces its execution, resulting in a sprawling narrative that feels fragmented and underdeveloped. While the core ideas hold promise, the novel struggles to weave them together into a cohesive and impactful whole.
The story centers around “S,” a law student grappling with past addiction and personal demons. S yearns for a life where ”poetry and aesthetics are intertwined with street logic,” finding an avenue to this idealized existence through a blood-brotherhood pact with J, a melancholic and pathos-driven gang leader. This alliance catapults S into the upper echelons of the gang hierarchy, but he remains haunted by the specter of L, a destructive figure from his past. Simultaneously, S navigates his present, grappling with the anxieties of releasing a rap video on YouTube and seeking solace in a new brotherhood. This multifaceted storyline, while intriguing in its individual components, ultimately suffers from a lack of focus and narrative cohesion.
While Ajvide attempts to imbue the novel with the raw energy and lyricism of hip-hop, the prose often falls flat. Instead of capturing the rhythmic cadence and poetic depth of good rap lyrics, the writing is marked by awkward phrasing and jarring stylistic choices. The persistent rhyming employed by S, both in dialogue and narration, becomes a tiresome gimmick rather than a stylistic flourish. Furthermore, the deeply felt friendship between S and J, while genuinely moving at times, relies on clichéd portrayals of brotherhood and loyalty. This reliance on familiar tropes detracts from the potential impact of their bond and undermines the emotional weight of their shared experiences.
The novel’s structural weaknesses are further compounded by its uneven pacing and abrupt shifts in tone. Chapters with titles like ”Lyriken i våld 2” (The Lyricism in Violence 2) offer little substance, often devolving into meaningless fluff and melodramatic pronouncements. The inclusion of factual information about police shootings, while potentially relevant, feels jarringly out of place and disrupts the narrative flow. Similarly, S’s commentary on the cultural discourse surrounding gangster rap, while offering a glimpse into the author’s perspective, further contributes to the novel’s disjointed feel. These disparate elements, instead of enriching the narrative, create a sense of dissonance and detract from the overall reading experience.
Ajvide’s writing is at its strongest when he focuses on concrete details and avoids overly explaining the characters’ emotions and experiences. Scenes such as the brawl on Järvafältet, the attack on the rival gang leader, and the Mario Kart tournament with friends provide moments of intensity and offer glimpses into the characters’ inner lives without resorting to exposition. These scenes, while fleeting, serve as brief respites from the novel’s broader structural and stylistic issues. They highlight the potential for a more impactful narrative had the focus remained on showcasing rather than telling.
Ultimately, ”Våldet under huden” is an ambitious but flawed debut. While the novel tackles compelling themes and offers glimpses of genuine potential, its execution falters under the weight of its own ambition. The sprawling narrative, uneven pacing, and stylistic inconsistencies ultimately detract from the core story. While the 300+ page length, including four pages dedicated solely to acknowledgements, feels excessive, the novel’s core weakness lies not in its length but in its lack of focus and refinement. The abundance of ideas, while intriguing in isolation, ultimately overwhelms the narrative and prevents the novel from reaching its full potential. A more streamlined approach, with greater attention to pacing, character development, and stylistic consistency, could have yielded a more compelling and impactful story. As it stands, ”Våldet under huden” feels like a promising concept in need of further development and refinement.
